EP0524916A1 - A device for connecting a transverse leaf spring to the structure of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

A device for connecting a transverse leaf spring to the structure of a motor vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0524916A1
EP0524916A1 EP92830377A EP92830377A EP0524916A1 EP 0524916 A1 EP0524916 A1 EP 0524916A1 EP 92830377 A EP92830377 A EP 92830377A EP 92830377 A EP92830377 A EP 92830377A EP 0524916 A1 EP0524916 A1 EP 0524916A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
leaf spring
mounting
spring
vehicle
motor vehicle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP92830377A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0524916B1 (en
Inventor
Romolo Gandiglio
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fiat Auto SpA
Original Assignee
Fiat Auto SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fiat Auto SpA filed Critical Fiat Auto SpA
Publication of EP0524916A1 publication Critical patent/EP0524916A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0524916B1 publication Critical patent/EP0524916B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
    • B60G7/04—Buffer means for limiting movement of arms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G11/00—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs
    • B60G11/02—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having leaf springs only
    • B60G11/10—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having leaf springs only characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/18—Leaf springs
    • F16F1/22—Leaf springs with means for modifying the spring characteristic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
    • B60G2202/10—Type of spring
    • B60G2202/11—Leaf spring
    • B60G2202/112—Leaf spring longitudinally arranged
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/12—Mounting of springs or dampers
    • B60G2204/121—Mounting of leaf springs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/43—Fittings, brackets or knuckles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/45—Stops limiting travel

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to motor vehicle suspensions employing a transverse leaf spring acting as a resilient suspension member for a pair of wheels.
  • the invention relates to the connection of such a transverse leaf spring to the structure of a motor vehicle and aims to provide a connecting device through which the ends of the leaf spring can advantageously be used as upper supports for the respective wheels in the manner of trailing arms.
  • a connecting device characterised in that it comprises a pair of oscillating mountings disposed adjacent the ends of the transverse leaf spring and each including a pivot pin supported rotatably by the structure of the vehicle at right-angles to and above the spring and carrying on its lower part a fixing bracket for the spring and on its upper part a striking arm, and at least one stationary resilient stop fixed to the structure of the vehicle laterally of the striking arm of each mounting and against which the arm can oppose the translation of the spring relative to the median line of the vehicle by the effect of lateral loads on the suspension.
  • the connecting device makes it possible to use the ends of the leaf spring as upper control arms for supporting the wheels, allowing the ends to oscillate and correspondingly to deform the free central portion of the spring between the two mountings without, however, exceeding the preset limits for relative vertical travel between wheels and vehicle structure.
  • Both the connection of the pivot pin of the mounting to the bodywork and the connection between the fixing bracket and the mounting conveniently comprise respective shock-absorbing members.
  • a part of a transverse leaf spring used in the suspension of a pair of wheels of a motor vehicle for example a pair of front steering wheels
  • the respective references 2 and 3 schematically indicate the lower and upper joints of the support for the spindle of one of the wheels, which are aligned with one another about an axis 4 and of which the first is carried by a lower transversal oscillating arm, shown schematically at 5, and the second is carried by an end 6 of the leaf spring 1.
  • the end 6 therefore functions at the same time as an upper control arm and, together with the remaining part of the leaf spring 1, as a resilient wheel-suspension member.
  • the end 6 of the leaf spring 1 or upper control arm of the wheel is defined in relation to the rest of the leaf spring 1 by a mounting, generally indicated as 7, which, together with a specularly identical mounting adjacent the other end of the leaf spring 1, constitutes the device for connecting the spring to the structure of the vehicle, indicated 8.
  • the mounting 7 includes a pivoting element in the form of a stirrup 9 through which the leaf spring 1 passes and which comprises two lateral walls 10 interconnected below the spring 1 by a transverse pin 11 and above the spring 1 by a striking plate 12.
  • each support 14 comprises a sleeve of elastomeric material 15 and an outer annular retaining member 16 fixed to the structure 8 of the vehicle by respective screws 17.
  • a bush 19 is mounted on the lower pin 11 with the interposition of a shock-absorbing sleeve of elastomeric material 18 and its upper part forms a flat bracket member 20 on which the spring 1 bears and is fixed, for example, by means of a pair of rivets 21.
  • a stop buffer 22 of elastomeric material is fixed to the structure 8 of the vehicle in a position facing the abutment plate 12 of the stirrup member 9 on the inside of the latter, that is, on the side opposite the end 6 with the joint 3.
  • the stirrup member 9 is free to pivot relative to the supporting structure 8 by the effect of deformations of the leaf spring 1 following the oscillations of the end 6 which, as stated, constitutes the control arm carrying the joint 3.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)

Abstract

A device for connecting a transverse leaf spring (1) to the structure (8) of a motor vehicle comprises a pair of oscillating mountings (7) disposed close to the ends (6) of the leaf spring (1) and at least one stationary resilient stop member (22) fixed to the structure (8) of the vehicle laterally of the striking arm (12) of each mounting (7) for abutment by the arm (12) when the oscillation of the mounting (7) exceeds a predetermined angular amplitude.

Description

  • The present invention generally relates to motor vehicle suspensions employing a transverse leaf spring acting as a resilient suspension member for a pair of wheels.
  • More particularly, the invention relates to the connection of such a transverse leaf spring to the structure of a motor vehicle and aims to provide a connecting device through which the ends of the leaf spring can advantageously be used as upper supports for the respective wheels in the manner of trailing arms.
  • According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a connecting device characterised in that it comprises a pair of oscillating mountings disposed adjacent the ends of the transverse leaf spring and each including a pivot pin supported rotatably by the structure of the vehicle at right-angles to and above the spring and carrying on its lower part a fixing bracket for the spring and on its upper part a striking arm, and at least one stationary resilient stop fixed to the structure of the vehicle laterally of the striking arm of each mounting and against which the arm can oppose the translation of the spring relative to the median line of the vehicle by the effect of lateral loads on the suspension.
  • By virtue of this solution, the connecting device according to the invention makes it possible to use the ends of the leaf spring as upper control arms for supporting the wheels, allowing the ends to oscillate and correspondingly to deform the free central portion of the spring between the two mountings without, however, exceeding the preset limits for relative vertical travel between wheels and vehicle structure.
  • Both the connection of the pivot pin of the mounting to the bodywork and the connection between the fixing bracket and the mounting conveniently comprise respective shock-absorbing members.
  • The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings which are supplied purely by way of non-limitative example, in which:
    • Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of a part of a transverse leaf spring for motor vehicle suspension, provided with a connecting device according to the invention,
    • Figure 2 illustrates on an enlarged scale the detail indicated by the arrow II in Figure 1,
    • Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line III-III in Figure 2,
    • Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line IV-IV in Figure 3 and
    • Figure 5 is a partially-sectioned perspective view of a part of the connecting device.
  • With reference initially to Figure 1, a part of a transverse leaf spring used in the suspension of a pair of wheels of a motor vehicle, for example a pair of front steering wheels, is indicated 1. In the drawing, the respective references 2 and 3 schematically indicate the lower and upper joints of the support for the spindle of one of the wheels, which are aligned with one another about an axis 4 and of which the first is carried by a lower transversal oscillating arm, shown schematically at 5, and the second is carried by an end 6 of the leaf spring 1. The end 6 therefore functions at the same time as an upper control arm and, together with the remaining part of the leaf spring 1, as a resilient wheel-suspension member.
  • The arrangement for the other wheel is an identical mirror image of that shown in Figure 1 and as such has been omitted for ease of illustration.
  • The end 6 of the leaf spring 1 or upper control arm of the wheel is defined in relation to the rest of the leaf spring 1 by a mounting, generally indicated as 7, which, together with a specularly identical mounting adjacent the other end of the leaf spring 1, constitutes the device for connecting the spring to the structure of the vehicle, indicated 8.
  • Referring in greater detail to Figures 2 to 5, the mounting 7 includes a pivoting element in the form of a stirrup 9 through which the leaf spring 1 passes and which comprises two lateral walls 10 interconnected below the spring 1 by a transverse pin 11 and above the spring 1 by a striking plate 12.
  • Immediately above the leaf spring 1, the stirrup element 9 is mounted on a pivot pin 13 the ends of which 13a project beyond the respective lateral walls 10 and are mounted within respective shock-absorbing supports 14. Each support 14 comprises a sleeve of elastomeric material 15 and an outer annular retaining member 16 fixed to the structure 8 of the vehicle by respective screws 17.
  • A bush 19 is mounted on the lower pin 11 with the interposition of a shock-absorbing sleeve of elastomeric material 18 and its upper part forms a flat bracket member 20 on which the spring 1 bears and is fixed, for example, by means of a pair of rivets 21.
  • A stop buffer 22 of elastomeric material is fixed to the structure 8 of the vehicle in a position facing the abutment plate 12 of the stirrup member 9 on the inside of the latter, that is, on the side opposite the end 6 with the joint 3. As is better seen in Figures 1 and 2, the stirrup member 9 is free to pivot relative to the supporting structure 8 by the effect of deformations of the leaf spring 1 following the oscillations of the end 6 which, as stated, constitutes the control arm carrying the joint 3. The positions, indicated by broken lines, of the joint 3 on opposite sides of the position of rest, represented by the continuous line in Figure 1, and to which similar positions of the lower joint 2 correspond, demonstrate the extent of the angular travel of the end 6 and hence the amplitude of the relative movement together and apart of the wheels and the vehicle structure 8. The amplitude of the movement together (upper broken-line position of the swivel joint 3) is limited by the abutment between the striking plate 12 and the resilient buffer 22. In fact, during oscillation of the end 6 of the leaf spring 1, the stirrup member 9 pivots about the axis of the pin 13 because of the connection, described above, between the leaf spring 1 and the bottom bracket 20.
  • Naturally, the details of construction and forms of embodiment may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (3)

  1. A device for connecting a transverse leaf spring (1) to the structure (8) of a motor vehicle, characterised in that it comprises a pair of oscillating mountings (7) disposed close to the ends (6) of the leaf spring (1) and each including a pivot pin (13) supported rotatably by the structure (8) of the vehicle at right-angles to and above the spring (1) and carrying on its lower part a bracket (20) for fixing to the spring (1) and on its upper part a striking arm (12), and at least one stationary resilient stop (22) fixed to the structure (8) of the vehicle laterally of the striking arm (12) of each mounting (7) for abutment by the arm (12) when the oscillation of the mounting (7) about the pin (13) exceeds a predetermined angular magnitude.
  2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the pivot pin (13) has ends (13a) projecting from opposite parts of the mounting (7) and mounted in respective shock-absorbing supports (14) fixed to the structure (8) of the vehicle.
  3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the fixing bracket includes a pin (11) which is supported by the mounting (7) parallel to the pivot pin (13) and on which is mounted, with an interposed shock-absorbing sleeve (18), a bush (19) having a flat upper wall (20) on which the spring (1) is rigidly fixed.
EP92830377A 1991-07-24 1992-07-14 A device for connecting a transverse leaf spring to the structure of a motor vehicle Expired - Lifetime EP0524916B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO910585 1991-07-24
ITTO910585A IT1250207B (en) 1991-07-24 1991-07-24 DEVICE FOR CONNECTION OF A CROSS-SPRING SPRING TO THE STRUCTURE OF A VEHICLE.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0524916A1 true EP0524916A1 (en) 1993-01-27
EP0524916B1 EP0524916B1 (en) 1996-03-20

Family

ID=11409516

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92830377A Expired - Lifetime EP0524916B1 (en) 1991-07-24 1992-07-14 A device for connecting a transverse leaf spring to the structure of a motor vehicle

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0524916B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69209178T2 (en)
IT (1) IT1250207B (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2733464A1 (en) * 1995-04-28 1996-10-31 Renault Vehicle leaf spring suspension extending transversely to vehicle longitudinal axis
EP0965467A3 (en) * 1998-06-15 2000-10-18 The B.F. Goodrich Company Leaf spring suspension system
EP1155884A3 (en) * 2000-05-18 2005-01-05 Volvo Personvagnar AB Wheel suspension for a vehicle
WO2013041285A1 (en) * 2011-09-23 2013-03-28 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Bearing means for a transverse leaf spring
DE102013000651A1 (en) * 2013-01-16 2014-07-17 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Support arrangement of a transverse leaf spring device on a structure of a motor vehicle and motor vehicles with such a support arrangement

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE462402C (en) * 1928-07-10 Felix Meineke Dr Ing Support leaf spring, especially for motor vehicles
US2697613A (en) * 1952-07-23 1954-12-21 Fiat Spa Leaf spring suspension for motor vehicles
FR1349363A (en) * 1962-12-04 1964-01-17 Force balancing arm device with stroke limiter, for heavy-duty vehicles with double rear axle
US3181641A (en) * 1962-01-02 1965-05-04 Ford Motor Co Vehicle suspension
FR2388688A1 (en) * 1977-04-25 1978-11-24 Citroen Sa Transverse engine mounting for front wheel drive vehicle - has supports extended to partially cover crankcase on each side
EP0089858A1 (en) * 1982-01-28 1983-09-28 Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle Elastic leaf spring suspension for a two-wheel set of a vehicle, and elastic leaf for such a suspension
CH640789A5 (en) * 1979-07-25 1984-01-31 Tanner Ag Device for the suspension of a wheel axle
WO1988002315A1 (en) * 1986-10-04 1988-04-07 Gkn Technology Limited Vehicle suspension
EP0415178A1 (en) * 1989-08-17 1991-03-06 The B.F. Goodrich Company Suspension system

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE462402C (en) * 1928-07-10 Felix Meineke Dr Ing Support leaf spring, especially for motor vehicles
US2697613A (en) * 1952-07-23 1954-12-21 Fiat Spa Leaf spring suspension for motor vehicles
US3181641A (en) * 1962-01-02 1965-05-04 Ford Motor Co Vehicle suspension
FR1349363A (en) * 1962-12-04 1964-01-17 Force balancing arm device with stroke limiter, for heavy-duty vehicles with double rear axle
FR2388688A1 (en) * 1977-04-25 1978-11-24 Citroen Sa Transverse engine mounting for front wheel drive vehicle - has supports extended to partially cover crankcase on each side
CH640789A5 (en) * 1979-07-25 1984-01-31 Tanner Ag Device for the suspension of a wheel axle
EP0089858A1 (en) * 1982-01-28 1983-09-28 Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle Elastic leaf spring suspension for a two-wheel set of a vehicle, and elastic leaf for such a suspension
WO1988002315A1 (en) * 1986-10-04 1988-04-07 Gkn Technology Limited Vehicle suspension
EP0415178A1 (en) * 1989-08-17 1991-03-06 The B.F. Goodrich Company Suspension system

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2733464A1 (en) * 1995-04-28 1996-10-31 Renault Vehicle leaf spring suspension extending transversely to vehicle longitudinal axis
EP0965467A3 (en) * 1998-06-15 2000-10-18 The B.F. Goodrich Company Leaf spring suspension system
EP1155884A3 (en) * 2000-05-18 2005-01-05 Volvo Personvagnar AB Wheel suspension for a vehicle
WO2013041285A1 (en) * 2011-09-23 2013-03-28 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Bearing means for a transverse leaf spring
DE102013000651A1 (en) * 2013-01-16 2014-07-17 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Support arrangement of a transverse leaf spring device on a structure of a motor vehicle and motor vehicles with such a support arrangement
EP2756972A1 (en) * 2013-01-16 2014-07-23 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Support structure of a transverse leaf spring on the superstructure of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle with such a support structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO910585A1 (en) 1993-01-24
DE69209178T2 (en) 1996-07-25
IT1250207B (en) 1995-04-03
EP0524916B1 (en) 1996-03-20
DE69209178D1 (en) 1996-04-25
ITTO910585A0 (en) 1991-07-24

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